This week, from August 8th to 15th, head out to your local markets, restaurants, and farms during Alberta Local Food Week! Farmers’ Markets are happening all summer around Alberta and are perfect to stock up on fresh foods. Don’t forget to stop by farm tours, breweries and distilleries, ending your day with a delicious meal with fresh ingredients at local restaurants.
Alberta Local Food Week is a great opportunity to enjoy some delicious local food:
- visit a Farmers’ Market in your area
- pick your own fresh fruit and vegetables at a u-pick farm
- plan your ultimate local food experience at Open Farm Days
- follow the local food conversation to see events, activities and celebrations using #ABLocalFood
Shop at a Farmers’ Market this Week!
This summer, over 10 local markets are available around the region for you to find delicious, locally sourced produce, meats, and more.
What better time to see what our province’s agricultural community has to offer? At the beginning of the week, head to the Ardrossan Farmers’ Market held every Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 PM and featuring many vendors for produce, meats, treats, and more!
On Thursdays, stop by the Boyle Farmers’ Market from 12-3 PM for a variety of food goods and crafts. From 3:30 to 6:30 PM, you can head to Cold Lake to check out one of the biggest markets in the area! Finally, head to Vegreville from 5-8 PM for the Pysanka Park Market where you can find a huge selection of vendors including Taber corn, fresh lemonade, tasty baked goods.
Start your weekend with a visit to Lac La Biche Farmers’ Market, open every Friday from 3-5 PM. With dozens of vendors to shop, you’re sure to find fresh ingredients, the perfect gift, and a variety of treats to take home!
Saturday is the perfect day to go market hopping! From 10 AM to noon, head to Smoky Lake for baking, traditional Ukrainian food, fresh farm eggs, produce, and more. Camrose Saturday Farmers’ Market runs weekly from 10 AM to 1 PM with over twenty vendors. Don’t forget to stop by Bonnyville from 11 AM to 2 PM for many options including fresh veggies, potatoes, baking, and crafts. Browse the Ross Creek Market for various household knickknacks, antiques and vintage collectibles. Items include toys, silver, crystal, china and other home décor.
Finally, end your day at Andrew Farmers’ Market, now open from 1-3 PM with a great selection of quality products.
Looking for more Farmer’s Markets? Check our listings page and article.
Open Farm Days Weekend
August 14-15, 2021
Enjoy a weekend outing and see where the food we all eat comes from! Check albertaopenfarmdays.ca to see the dates and times for Farm visits.
Northeast of Edmonton
Diggers Place – Thorhild
This farm is offering a tour with the horses, they will also be taking a walk into the back and front area, where you can visit areas that wildlife occupy, with wetlands. You can also visit the barn where the rabbit and cats are homed and explanations of operations of a Stable. They will also visit rescue horses and ponies, that are all recovered horses and ponies. There will be discussions that focus on Care, Housing, and the importance of well-balanced owners and well-balanced animals.
Métis Crossing- Smoky Lake
Métis Crossing is for everyone! The team at Métis Crossing invites you to explore and discover our distinct Indigenous story. During Open Farm Days, they invite visitors to explore their wide open spaces and explore a traditional Riverlot way of living. Exact details are to be confirmed but they offer on-site:
-Cultural Gathering Centre with outdoor deck and menu including picnic baskets and Metis grub boxes
-General Admission with opportunity to tour at your leisure are historic camps, Riverlot farmyard, and onsite demonstrations
-Traditional arts and crafts workshops
-Berry farm and permaculture.
-Outdoor classroom with Tall tales by the fire
-Signature Experience (Additional Charge) – 2 hour Archery experience
-Signature Experience (Additional Charge) – 3 hour Canoe experience
-Historic Riverlot replica children’s playground
-Métis Veterans monument
-Lodge at Métis Crossing (opening Fall 2021)
Read our profile about Métis Crossing.
Christy Creek Honey – Lac La Biche
Christy Creek Honey produces local honey and other hive products. It is a small, family-run business in the heart of NE Alberta summer blooms. They offer hive tours (June – August).
Lakeland Brewing Company- St. Paul
Free brewery tours with the brewer, beer tasting, information regarding locally sourced barley/hops.
People’s Museum of St. Paul and District – St. Paul
Rural northeastern Alberta was built on the richness of local agricultural heritage. The Peoples’ Museum uses a variety of displays to illustrate how farming has changed since the first homesteaders settled here. Farm machinery on display includes tractors, plows, and implements for cultivating, seeding, harvesting and processing farm products.
Demonstrations: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Petting Zoo – Saturday only August 14th
Homemade Old Fashioned Ice Cream Demo – Sunday only August 15th
Cream Separator Demo
Butter Making Demo
Log Cutting Demo
Learn more about the museum on their website.
K-Cow Ranch- Elk Point
Visitors will see first hand where food is grown and how it is cared for at their ranch with a “hands on” tour where they will see:
-Different feeds and supplements that they provide to their beef cattle
-Vaccines and medicines their livestock receives and how they ensure food safety and track their livestock
-Visitors will have an opportunity to get up close to hand feed livestock.
-Visitors can enjoy Sunday Brunch with many fresh vegetables fresh out of the garden being served.
Charlotte Lake Farms- Bonnyville
Owned by the Bonneau family, 3rd generation farmers near Bonnyville, AB. They raise Angus beef to feed the local community from their farm to your table.
They like their visitors to have fun and learn about where their food comes from.
* Pasture & cattle tours
* Horse rides, bees & ag information booth
* Bale maze
* Scavenger hunt, door prizes, kid draws
* Cow patty bingo $
* Pop-up Farmers’ Market $
* Pumpkin patch
* Variety of animals for viewing
* Live music by local artists
* Local beer & distillery $
* Refreshments, food truck, and bannock on-site $
* No ATM on-site & No pets please
Landry Lake Ranch – Bonnyville
Experience a wagon ride pulled by a tractor towards the lake turning into the bush along a trail (Saskatoon berries hang over the trail/wild strawberries on the edge) and back along the open hayfield. Visitors can expect to find vendors, crafts & yummy food, as well as, have access to the vegetable garden. Animals to meet include peacocks, chickens/roosters, horses, blue-eyed cats, livestock guardian dogs, and sheep/lambs.
Rocky Meadows Country Getaway – Bonnyville
In 2005 the Tokers decided to diversify their cattle and grain operation, and planted a variety of berries, which became this picturesque u-pick farm.
On August 14, pick some berries and fruit (honey berries, buffalo berries, chokecherries, sea buckthorn, black currants, just to name a few), try your luck at Farmyard Mini Golf, and finish it up with a slice of pie from the café. Like to camp? Make it a farm, play, and stay weekend by booking a site at the riverside campground located at the back of the property. Call 780-826-6053 for more information.
Read our profile of Rocky Meadows on our website.
Ye Olde Maclean Hobby Farm- Bonnyville
Take a step back in time to stroll down our mini replica of an Old West street. Purchase a refreshment at the Sasparilla Saloon or a bag of candy from Liam’s General Store. Check out the jail at the Sheriff’s office, the many antique tools at the Blacksmith shop or pay a visit to the Olde Trappers cabin at the end of the street. Stop in at the Trading Post to pet one of the Nigerian kid goats. As you Head down Bourbon St., there are many stops along the way to meet more farm critters.
350 Farms- Cold Lake
Farm tour and education of the animals found on 350 Farms with special emphasis on their kunekune pigs and LGD’s. They will have samples of their kunekune pork, walks available, and pony rides.
350 Farms is open to the public every day from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm by appointment for indoor (winter) petting zoo and pony walks or public access to the farm shop coming soon.
This year there are five host farms plus the Bonnyville Farmers’ Market for Open Farm Day!
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 14, you’ll be able to explore the M.D., learn more about agriculture in our area, pick up some tasty treats, pet some baby goats, and more!
Check out event details on Facebook.
East of Edmonton
Barr Estate Winery- Sherwood Park
A family business, Barr Estate has built a reputation for award-inning wine using fruit including raspberries grown by Amy’s grandfather. Her family homesteaded in the County of Strathcona many years ago. Her grandfather started growing raspberries on the farm and years later Amy’s mom was able to nurture a few of those heritage plants into thousands that they use today when making their wine. The rhubarb was on the farm and they also received a great many plants from friends and family. So many varieties which makes the wine so flavourful. They also have a number of first generation fruits that they are experimenting with to create enchanting wines for you.
Expect a fun-filled day of:
Winery tours
Farm/gardens self-guided tours
Food
Wine sales
Petting zoo
Sheep, lambs cattle (maybe), donkeys
Read our profile on Barr Estate.
Jackson Homesteaders – Sherwood Park
Jackson Homesteaders is one of the oldest, still operating farms in Alberta. At Jackson Homesteaders Farms Ltd you can expect to enjoy:
– farm tour (approximately 30 mins), where you can see and learn about the different crops we grow and the machinery they use to grow them (free!)
– pony adventures (free!) – come brush a pony and play a game or two with them*
– visits with livestock (see the horses, friendly Dexter cows, and donkeys!)*
– interact with the world’s most awesome flock of chickens
– have a look at their community garden
– enjoy the beauty of the farm site
Mennonite Heritage Farms – Sherwood Park
Why come visit this farm?
– To preserve and promote Mennonite and agrarian culture and traditions.
– To gain an interactive understanding of where food comes from.
– To demonstrate the value of community gardening.
– Experience a tranquil rural setting
– Farm and Garden tours
– Garden Produce
– Petting zoo
– Self-directed walking tours
– Concession stand available
– Antique car show
– Antique tractor demonstration (pending)
Chicks-N-Chaps & Bar OA Farms – Fort Saskatchewan
Located just East of Edmonton in Strathcona County you will find Chicks N Chaps and Bar OA Farms. Bar OA Farms is a micro flower farm growing distinctive, hard-to-find, environmentally sensitive flowers.
Ardrossan Recreation & Agricultural Society – Ardrossan
ARAS (Ardrossan Recreation & Agricultural Society) will be celebrating Alberta Open Farm Days virtually this year – please join their event page to participate.
A scavenger hunt that includes some of their vendors from the Ardrossan Ag Society Farmers Market and a coloring contest in the newspaper for kids. They will also have some local companies and farmers do demonstration videos and load them on their Facebook page. All the prizes will be purchased from their farmers’ market vendors for the scavenger hunt and coloring contest.
Find more details on their Facebook page.
Chatsworth Farm- Vermilion
Get an up-close tour of their farm and animals, watch machinery demonstrations, bring your lunch or a snack and a picnic blanket to enjoy a picnic in the pasture, grab a bag of mini donuts, learn about their farm community members, and much more! Find more information and about their event HERE
You will become immersed in all things Chatsworth Farm and learn about how they raise their animals and run the farm. Just a few things you’ll be able to do:|
– Touch a day-old chick
– Learn how their farm is Verified Beef Production Plus Certified & and our relationship with Ducks Unlimited
– Discover the reason why eggs are green
– Shop the farm store and take farm-fresh goodies home with you
– Feel sheeps’ wool
– Listen to the turkeys gobble
– Walk amongst the cattle and horse in the pasture
– Shake paws with their Livestock Guardian Dog Lizzy
– See the chickens taking a dust bath
Southeast of Edmonton
Wildflower Bride Honey – Hay Lakes
Wildflower Bride Farms looks over an amazing view of valley and woodlands and natural waterways of the Aspen Parkland. The Historic Berube House, built in 1906, is a favorite of many visitors to the farm. The busiest workers on the farm are the hardworking bees, gathering nectar from the Aspen Parkland to create a beautiful wild floral honey. Other friendly residents of the farm include the rescue cows and the flock of sheep. The sheepdog, Hudson, will gladly demonstrate the sheep round up! Don’t miss the innovative and child friendly market garden from their partners at Fallaway Farms. After enjoying the tour of your choice and your visit to the 1940’s reconditioned barn, they invite you to enjoy local teas and saskatoon scones on the original veranda of the historic house. Tea and scones- with honey of course- will be $5 per person. Bucket Families will be able to refill their buckets from the farm tank and see what the new season honey tastes like!
Lazuli Farms – Camrose
Head over and visit their first-generation livestock farm in Camrose County! Meet the animals on a farm tour and learn more about how your food is raised. Don’t forget to visit the farm market store to shop for farm-raised meat, local foods, and local artisanal products. Grab a delicious lunch or snack featuring locally grown farm-fresh ingredients! Farm store open (see hours on the website). Offering farm tours seasonally.
Lil Ryley Farms- Camrose County
Head on out and enjoy picking vegetables in their 3 acre U-Pick and checking out all the farm animals on a farm tour. They will also be providing their guests the opportunity to see how some of their equipment works and answer all your questions on their farm operations. Don’t forget to stop in at the Farm Store where you can shop other locally produced products. And finally, enjoy lunch on the farm where everything is produced/grown/raised local to us.
Food Artisans of Camrose County
The Food Artisans of Camrose County (FACC) Scavenger Hunt has started! Check off items on the scavenger hunt list for your chance to win local food prizes every week in August! You can enter by posting pictures on social media by tagging @foodartisansofcamrosecounty and using the hashtag #facclocalfoodhunt or email photos to foodartisansofcamroaecounty@gmail.com
Scavenger hunt items include:
-Take a photo of your favorite picnic spot
-Take a photo of you at a Food Artisan farm store or business
-Sign up on a Food Artisans email list
This is a fun way to explore Camrose County, meet local farmers, discover great food, and win prizes! Find more information on their website. Have fun!
Round Hill Renaissance Agricultural Foundation- Camrose/Round Hill
Round Hill Renaissance Agriculture Foundation is a community group that is working with the Round Hill school to provide educational opportunities for students. They share what they grow with the families in their community, and connect through food and cultural experiences. They are in the early stages of building their foundation to provide a space for gathering, learning, and sharing knowledge.
Community Garden
Chicken Poop Bingo – win 50/50 prizes
Discover how to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit.
Learn about and tour the start of their food forest (First year of planting), and their plans for future growth.
Experience weeding and harvesting of vegetables and anything else in season.
Discover edible plants, flowers, tree fruits, and nuts.
Take home veggie bags/seeds.
TME Farms- Rosalind, Camrose County
They will offer a farm tour of their mixed farm which should include views of chickens, pigs (and piglets), cows (and calves), and the wetlands on their farm.
There will be a scavenger hunt for the younger visitors that will take them to times past. Their farm store will feature the meat, eggs, and vegetables they raise on the farm. Please come prepared to stock up on farm-fresh goodies.
Check albertaopenfarmdays.ca to see the dates and times for Farm visits.
Flagstaff Virtual Open Farm Days – August 4 to 16
Flagstaff’s Virtual Open Farms Days is an opportunity to get to know the stories and faces behind Flagstaff Region’s Food and Agricultural producers. Learn first hand where food comes from, how it’s made and where to purchase nutritious and sustainable products and how to plan your next farm tour. Check their Facebook Page for more information.
Alberta on a Plate
Celebrate the beautiful selection of locally produced ingredients during Alberta on the Plate from August 6-15th. Take in incredible views as you dig into a delicious lunch or three-course dinner at Twisted Fork in St Paul. Or, find the perfect pairing with your meal when you enjoy a meal at Hart House Wine & Tapa in Camrose.
Quench your Thirst on the Go East Sippin’ Trail
Sip and Savour your way across the region with our Sippin Trail of local breweries, wineries and distilleries. Check out all the details at:
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Need Help Planning your Trip?
- Call us at 1-888-632-8755 or email info@goeastofedmonton.com